Broncos' ownership situation is getting messy

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who stepped down from day-to-day duties in 2014 to continue his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, left the team in the hands of a trust he set up to organize a succession plan.

Bowlen wanted the trust to pass on ownership to one of his children when one of them emerged as a qualified candidate. Beth Bowlen, a daughter from Bowlen’s first marriage, said publicly in May that she wants to become the team’s controlling owner.

Bill Bowlen, Pat’s younger brother, voiced support for Beth in May and he now appears to be going to bat for her. Bill is trying to have the trust removed through a lawsuit, according to The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala:

Bill Bowlen asked a Colorado District Court to remove trustees Rich Slivka, Mary Kelly and Joe Ellis as agents of Pat Bowlen and of his power of attorney "due to their failure to uphold Pat Bowlen’s wishes and act in the best interest of Pat Bowlen, his family and the Broncos."

The lawsuit claims that Beth is being blocked by Annabel Bowlen — Pat’s second wife — from owning the team. Here’s that portion of the complaint, courtesy of 104.3 The Fan’s Darren McKee:

One of [Beth’s] first official team responsibilities was attending the NFL spring owner meeting in Florida in March 2012. After learning that Beth had attended the meeting, Annabel Bowlen became very upset and threatened to have Defendant Ellis fired. It was Annabel Bowlen’s desire to have one of her children become the next controlling owner. It was at this time the relationship between Defendants Ellis and Slivka and Beth became strained. And, it was at this time that Defendants Ellis and Slivka became beholden to Annabel Bowlen wishes and contrary succession plans.

After the lawsuit became public Thursday evening, the Broncos released the following statement through Dan Reilly, the legal counsel for the Pat Bowlen Trust:

“We have not seen this lawsuit and first learned of it through a media report tonight.

“Although we are currently reviewing this matter, we are aware that the counsel submitting this complaint on behalf of Bill Bowlen is the same one that has been representing Beth Bowlen Wallace.

“The trustees will continue to execute Pat Bowlen’s long-standing succession plan for the Denver Broncos in compliance with all NFL ownership policies.”